The USS Dewy on Thursday conducted a maneuvering drill within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island constructed by Beijing in the contested South China Sea. Although the previous Administration often sent warships into the South China Sea to uphold freedom of navigation and challenge China’s claim to virtually the entire region, some analysts say […]

May 26, 2017Comments Off on U.S. Makes Most Defiant Drill Yet in South China SeaRead More

For years, China has been enraging its neighbors by building and militarizing artificial islands across disputed waters. Now, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state says it’s time for the U.S. to draw a hard line. “We’re going to have to send China a clear signal that first, the island-building stops and second, your […]

January 13, 2017Comments Off on Tillerson to China: Island Building Stops HereRead More

In this tension-filled period following an international tribunal hearing in the Hague, which ruled that China has no rightful claim to almost all of the South China Sea, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) unveiled a series of weapons for air and sea combat during a visit by prominent officers. It is uncharacteristic and rare for […]

July 25, 2016Comments Off on China’s People’s Liberation Army Reveals New Weapons on State TelevisionRead More

Conflict in the South China Sea continues to rise as China prepares an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the region, sources close to the People’s Liberation Army say. Some of you – definitely including myself – may be wondering “what the heck is an air defense identification zone??” Well, here it is: ADIZ is […]

June 1, 2016Comments Off on China Prepares Air Defense Identification Zone in South China Sea, Sources SayRead More

One of the most crucial meetings in international relations will take place this June: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, along with U.S. Treasury Chief Jack Lew, and other top officials will meet with State Councillor Yang Jiechi and Vice-Premier Wang Yang in Beijing for the Sino-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (SED). The SED, which […]

May 9, 2016Comments Off on Bi-Annual U.S.-China Talks Likely to be Overshadowed by South China Sea RulingRead More

China continues to claim most of the disputed South China Sea, where it has built several artificial islands including some with military capabilities. One man is not too happy about that move. He happens to be in charge of US military operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Meet Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., the US military […]

May 7, 2016Comments Off on US Admiral Takes Tough Stance on ChinaRead More

China currently stands as the lone power-head in the disputed region of the South China Sea. China, along with the surrounding weaker countries (including the Philippines) all lay claim to a set of islands, coral reefs, and lagoons sprawled in waters rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves. However, a promising new military […]

Tensions the South China Sea have not only remained a constant, but despite no recent urgent actions, those tensions keep on rising and rising and rising. China recently built artificial islands (which contain air-strips and radar stations), which has U.S. patrols challenging China’s arrogant claims. Because of this, concerns that the pressures regarding the highly-desirable […]

China’s Supreme Court has announced it will create a maritime judicial centre to handle territorial disputes. Chief Justice Zhou Qiang broke the news on Sunday during the ongoing annual meeting of China’s Parliament. “(We) must resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty, maritime rights and other core interests,” Zhou said. China is currently at odds with its neighbors […]

The US is urging China to cover the entire South China Sea in its pledge to not militarize islands in the region. In recent months, China has deployed surface-to-air missiles, radar gear, and fighter jets to an islet there. “We are concerned that China has taken a number of unilateral steps over the last several […]